Enhanced analysis of landscape structure: Inclusion of transition zones and small-scale landscape elements

Hou, Wei; Walz, Ulrich

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.11.014

Cited by 24 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…ESS and ESF assessment concepts still do not intensively account for landscape features such as composition and spatial constellation of different land uses, though interest in this aspect is increasing (Bartel 2000 ;Hou and Walz 2013 ;Lautenbach et al 2011 ;Syrbe and Walz 2012 ). Current research addresses issues such as species diversity or habitat connectivity (e.g.…”

Section: Case Study 2 -Landscape Metrics For Improving Esf and Ess Asmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Impact of Land-Use Changes on Providing Hydrological Ecosystem Functions (ESF) and Services (ESS) – A Case-Study Experience Based Conceptual Framework

Fürst

Flügel

2015

Ecosystem Services and River Basin Ecohydrology

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In this chapter, requirements for and lessons learnt from assessing the impact of land use and land cover change (LULCC) on the provision of hydrological ecosystem functions (ESF) and services (ESS) are demonstrated based on selected case studies. First, potentials, limits and transferability of a detailed land classifi cation scheme developed for Germany are explored. Second, an approach how to make use of landscape metrics to correct the assessment of ESF and ESS provision in LULCC impact assessment is presented to better account for land-use pattern heterogeneity. Third, the potential of Hydrological Response Units (HRU) to bridge scale-related discrepancies between modeling, assessment and decision units is discused. Finally, a conceptual framework approach is suggested that builds on the HRU concept and merges the latter with a cellular automaton based LULCC impact assessment framework.

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Section: Case Study 2 -Landscape Metrics For Improving Esf and Ess Asmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Impact of Land-Use Changes on Providing Hydrological Ecosystem Functions (ESF) and Services (ESS) – A Case-Study Experience Based Conceptual Framework

Fürst

Flügel

2015

Ecosystem Services and River Basin Ecohydrology

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“…Attempts that incorporation of ecotones in fragmentation metrics (e.g. effective mesh size (MESH) (Jaeger 2000)) have been made to show the alleviation effects of landscape fragmentation by ecotones (Hou and Walz 2013). However, using the fragmentation metrics, the ecological functions of small habitats may be regarded as the perforation phase of fragmentation process according to their geometric characteristics (Forman 1995, Jaeger 2000.…”

Section: The Use Of Contrast Metrics In Different Landscapesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In practice the application of this model may be over simplified by losing valuable information on the landscape structure, such as the terrain characteristics of landscape (Hoechstetter 2008, Walz et al 2007, transitional areas between patches (Kent et al 1997), and small habitats within patches (Hou and Walz 2013). Kent et al (1997) defined transitional area as a subset of landscape boundaries that represents the zones between plant communities with some degree of naturalness, as opposed to the sharper demarcations that usually occur between land-use types.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An integrated approach for landscape contrast analysis with particular consideration of small habitats and ecotones

Hou¹,

Walz²

2016

Self Cite

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Citation: Hou W, Walz U (2016) An integrated approach for landscape contrast analysis with particular consideration of small habitats and ecotones. Nature Conservation 14: 25-39. doi: 10.3897/natureconservation.14.7010 AbstractHabitat diversity is considered as an expression of biodiversity at landscape level in addition to genetic and species diversity. Thus, effective methods for measuring habitat pattern at landscape level are crucial for understanding the ecological processes. In this paper we propose to extend the commonly used model Patch Corridor Matrix Model (PCMM) for spatial pattern analysis. Originally, this model assumes discrete structures within the landscape without explicit consideration of "gradients" between patches. The gradients, often called "ecotones", can be considered as "soft edges" which have a profound influence on adjacent ecosystems. Another part of information that has often been ignored are "small habitats" inside patches (e.g. hedgerows, tree rows, copse, and scattered trees), which leads to within-patch heterogeneity being underestimated. In this paper, the concept of landscape contrast is used to integrate the discrete and gradient landscape representations by incorporating small habitats and ecotones in methods to measure landscape heterogeneity. A height gradient is used to define the ecotones between forest and field. Then, patch contrast (i.e. Edge Contrast Index (ECON)) is calculated based on the height difference between adjacent vegetation patches. Artificial elements (e.g. traffic roads) are considered as barriers which are assigned with the highest edge contrast value. At the landscape level, a metric called Area-Weighted Edge Contrast (AWEC) is introduced to describe the landscape structure. The edge effects of ecotones, small habitats, and traffic roads are incorporated in the calculation of AWEC. Our test examples show that incorporation of ecotones and small habitats can smooth "edge effects" among patches and result in a more realistic quantification of habitat contrast. The contrast concept is especially useful in a vegetated landscape with less human impact. It could be understood as an additional interpretation to fragmentation of habitats with permeable edges among them. Consequently, this presented approach may enhance the understanding of the relationship between landscape pattern and process.

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“…The basic purpose is to find areas where different European natural landscape units (types or regions) meet. Areas where there is a mix of various natural factors are important from the aspect of biodiversity because landscape diversity has an important impact on biodiversity (i.e., habitat and species diversity; Dramstad et al 2001;Hou & Walz 2013;Walz & Syrbe 2013). Areas with landscape diversity may also have an advantage in economic development, and especially in tourism, because »human perception values diversity, complexity, patterns, and local character« (Erharti~ 2012, 36).…”

Section: Introduction 2 Purposementioning

confidence: 99%

Europe's landscape hotspots

Ciglič¹,

Perko²

2013

AGS

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The main purpose of this analysis is to identify places in Europe that can be described as very diverse according to various natural landscape types or landscape regions. In order to obtain these »hotspots,« several geographical divisions of Europe were examined. The analysis was performed for most of Europe at 5 km resolution. First, maps of landscape variety were produced based on each division of Europe taken into account. This step was carried out for each cell by counting the number of different unique natural landscape types or regions that are present in a radius of 50 km around the cell. Several maps of landscape diversity were produced using this method. Each of them was then weighted; the cell values were divided by the number of all unique types or regions in a division. In the final stage, all of the maps were synthesized (averaged) into one map showing landscape diversity for Europe. With this data it was possible to determine Europe's landscape hotspots and to define the most naturally heterogeneous countries. Among all of the European countries, Slovenia has the highest average landscape diversity; the highest absolute landscape diversity is located in the Norwegian part of southern Scandinavia.

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Enhanced analysis of landscape structure: Inclusion of transition zones and small-scale landscape elements

Cited by 24 publications

References 33 publications

Assessing the Impact of Land-Use Changes on Providing Hydrological Ecosystem Functions (ESF) and Services (ESS) – A Case-Study Experience Based Conceptual Framework

Assessing the Impact of Land-Use Changes on Providing Hydrological Ecosystem Functions (ESF) and Services (ESS) – A Case-Study Experience Based Conceptual Framework

An integrated approach for landscape contrast analysis with particular consideration of small habitats and ecotones

Europe's landscape hotspots

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